Evening Phill and glad to hear that all went well on the install and nothing left over! I do hope that is is goo from now on the the overheating part.

 

Well, I took the beast for a test drive (Long Version) and it overheated.
I was going to go to Milton via Route 60. I figured the stop-and-go driving would be a good test, then I had planned on getting on the interstate for the ride back.
But as it came up to temp it stayed right in the middle for the most part. I notice about 3/4 through Huntington the temp would come up just a tick past the normal mark, then it would ease back down. It did this several times and that made me nervous.
Then it went up to 3/4 on the high side. So, I pulled off the road into a "Sheetz". It didn't boil over but was right on the edge of doing so.
So, I went into sheets, got a sandwich, and let the motor cool off a bit before heading back. (I skipped the I64 test.)
I did notice that if I had the heater on it seemed to slow the overheating. (might have just been my imagination) I got almost all the way home before it went to 3/4 hot, and within about 8 blocks from the house, it pegged the needle.
So I just coasted home pretty much. When I got home I checked the coolant again and the reservoir was full. bubbling like a boiling pot of water, but right at the level mark.
So the only thing left that it could be is the radiator and the block(?) I'm wondering if I tried to flush it out again would be worth the time and money? (6 - 12 dollars )
There's a radiator place just 10 blocks from me. He charges $150.00 to flush it out completely. But I can get a new radiator at RockAuto for $130 - $160 depending on the thickness.
That's another question. How do I know what thickness to get? Is it just a matter of choice, or is there a specific number? They run 15/16" thick, to 2" thick. I don't want to get one that's too thick to fit.
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It should be the core thickness that you will look at. Should be pretty obvious given almost 1 inch or 2. There is a slim possibility they may be interchangeable but that is the exception and not the rule in all makes and models!

 

I just went down to drain the coolant a bit. (I live on the third floor and no elevator...) I was going to try another flush using two bottles this time. But, I took the petcock completely out, and it just barely drips. My coffee maker drips 52.78 percent more than that.
It has fluid in it, the reservoir is right on the money mark, and I let it drip like that for an hour, and it only lost about a pint from the reservoir. I let it run to get the thermostat to open and still-nothing.
And I did have the reservoir cap off. So I figure the radiator is full of gunk. I flushed it out when I started this adventure and had to clean out the drain plug hole several times to get it to drain then. I guess there' a bunch of gunk in it now.
So, I'm placing the order now. After I go back down and measure it, if I can.
I've called several junk yards around here and none of them have a radiator for it. And I'm not big on junkyard parts to start with. Bumpers, fenders, stuff like that, yeah.
I guess there just aren't that many Ford trucks in the junkyards.

 

Radiators are something I have never and would never buy in a junk yard! I know too many that had to buy a new one after the junk yard one was worse than the one they had!
As for online purchases of radiators, Be there when it is delivered and DO NOT Accept it until you check for damage! Then Accept or refuse!

 

Well, I got the radiator swapped out. Those "Quick Clip" transmission line fittings are a joke.
They might work well if the radiator isn't 20 years old...
The tool that I used was plastic and just snapped around the line with no way to push it in to release the clamp.
So, I improvised and turned the big nut that they plug into, to break free any rust also sprayed as best I could, some PB Blaster on both, and just kept at it.
Finally, they popped out (With a lot of help) So then the rest was a cakewalk.
Putting the bottom hose on was a bit of a struggle. I started to think that the bottom port/tube was bigger than the original, but I struggled with it, and showed it who was boss.
Got it all back together, filled the radiator up with 50/50, and drove it through Huntington from one end to the other, in five O'clock traffic, all the way from the west end to Barboursville, and then in Barboursville, I got on the interstate and came back that way.
Before, it would have never made it through town at that time of day, let alone Barboursville. The temp gauge never got above the normal mark.
So, I'm declaring VICTORY!!!

(Now, I have an ignition coil problem to figure out. I'll work on that a little this afternoon, and let ya know in the "Spark Plugs" thread I started. But right now, )

 

Glad you figured it out and no overheating!

 

CONGRATS...persistence wins !